March 9, 2014

This week's review of marijuana reform news and notes

I continue to make a habit of doing a weekly round up of posts from Marijuana Law, Policy and Reform because here continue to be so many developments in that realm that ought to be of great interest to senencing fans. For example, Alex Kreit has a new post at MLP&R, Race, marijuana enforcement and legalization, which astutely observes that "though the criminalization of marijuana has disproportionately impacted people of color, it seems the emerging marijuana industry is largely white." For more discussion of this insight and others, here are links to some notable recent posts:

Comments

I re-read an interesting little article by Justice Tom Clark arguing for the legalization of marijuana.

See Tom C. Clark, Drugs and the Law, 18 Loyola L. Rev. 243, 246–47 (1972). Justice Clark wrote, “[n]ot only have the experts found that marijuana does not incite crime but they have declared that ‘both Eastern and Western literature contain little evidence at this time that light to moderate use of cannabis (marijuana) has deleterious physical effects. . . .’” Id. at 246 (quoting U.S. DEP’T. OF HEALTH,EDUC., & WELFARE, THE SECOND ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS 229 (1972)). 223. See Justice Clark Dies, supra note 3, at 985 (quoting Chief Justice Warren

https://www.stmarytx.edu/webfiles/law/pdf/JusticeTC_VJ.pdf

See also: http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=861&dat=19720518&id=-tlHAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OYAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=7171,2755484

It's worth mentioning, since it was not in your post about immigration, that possession of marijuana less than 30 grams is not a removable offense and is an exemption for those inadmissible because of prior drug convictions. The rule also only applies to convictions and deferred adjudications, so it would not apply to a location where marijuana is legal to own and use.

I think our immigration rules for drug possession are draconian. But, out of all the rules, marijuana is still treated the most favorably. It is possible to come to the United States and stay here even with a conviction for recreational use (just don't buy in bulk).

Posted by: Erik M | Mar 10, 2014 1:46:44 PM

Time Magazine reports the following: " The state of Colorado's collected $2 million in taxes on the approximately $14 million in recreational marijuana sales since the drug was legalized and regulated. Officials will use the windfall to build new schools and possibly for advertisements against driving while high."

I'm converted. Time for all the states to legalize and reap the benefits. Better we get the income than the cartels.

Posted by: Dave from texas | Mar 11, 2014 10:26:37 AM

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